Aloe plant named ‘NIGHT SKY’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named ‘NIGHT SKY’ is disclosed, characterized by star shaped rosettes of olive green, with some dappling of white spots, and blushes an attractive bronze in full sun. Plants of the new variety root easily, grow larger than many colorful commercial miniature Aloes, and offset prolifically, quickly filling an 8 inch or larger container and growing larger. Due to the prolific offsetting propagation rates are enhanced. The new variety is an Aloe, typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Aloe hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘NIGHT SKY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The seedparent is the unpatented Aloe hybrid ‘CO11’. The pollen parent is theunpatented Aloe hybrid ‘SRH 3’. The crossing was made in March 2015 at acommercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. ‘NIGHT SKY’ was selected by theinventor in July 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘NIGHT SKY’ was first performedby vegetative cuttings at a commercial laboratory in Vista, Calif. inSummer of 2017. ‘NIGHT SKY’ has since produced several generations andhas shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘NIGHT SKY’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘NIGHT SKY’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘NIGHT SKY’ as a new and distinct Aloe cultivar:

-   1. Aloe ‘Starry Night’ prolifically produces offsets, quickly    filling an 8″ or larger container.-   2. Aloe ‘Starry Night’ grows larger than many of the popular new    colorful miniature Aloes that have been introduced into the    commercial market.-   3. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ has a moderately fast growth rate, and is quick    to root, sometimes within days, whereas many other Aloes are slow    growers and do not root for weeks.-   4. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’, due to the prolific production of offsets,    enhances propagation rates in a commercial nursery.-   5. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ forms star shaped rosettes of olive green, with    some dappling of white spots, and blushes an attractive bronze in    full sun.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NIGHT SKY’ are similar to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new varietydiffer from the seed parent in the following:

-   1. Aloe NIGHT SKY’ displays larger rosettes than does Aloe ‘CO11’.-   2. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ produces more offsets than does Aloe ‘CO11’.-   3. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ is of a lower and flatter morphology than is    Aloe ‘CO11’.-   4. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ exhibits a taller, fuller inflorescence than    does Aloe ‘CO11’.-   5. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ displays dappled white spots on the olive green    leaves whereas Aloe ‘CO11’ does not.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NIGHT SKY’ are similar to the pollen parentin most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newvariety differ in the following:

-   1. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ produces more serrate margins than does Aloe    ‘SRH 3’.-   2. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ has a faster growth rate than does Aloe ‘SRH 3’.-   3. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ displays an attractive bronzing color of the    leaves in full sun whereas Aloe ‘SRH 3’ does not.-   4. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ produces a slightly less full inflorescence than    does Aloe ‘SRH 3’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘NIGHT SKY’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Aloedistans. The two Aloe varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety differs in the following:

-   1. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ forms attractive compact clusters whereas Aloe    distans displays stems of taller, but somewhat recumbent stature and    does not typically offset until a larger specimen.-   2. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ offsets profusely, whereas Aloe distans is    slower to produce offsets and produces fewer offsets.-   3. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’, due to its prolific offsettting, quick rooting    of the offsets, and lack of losses during the propagation process,    enhances propagation rates in a commercial nursery whereas Aloe    distans is slower to propagate and suffers losses to rot during the    propagation process.

‘NIGHT SKY’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Aloebarbadensis (Aloe vera). The two Aloe varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics; however, the new variety differs in thefollowing:

-   1. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ forms attractive, low growing clusters of green,    star-shaped rosettes dappled with white spots, whereas Aloe    barbadensis (Aloe vera) produces glaucous grayish green, upright    stems with few offsets.-   2. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’ displays an attractive, slightly capitate    inflorescence of larger orange flowers whereas Aloe barbadensis    (Aloe vera) produces a yellow inflorescence.-   3. Aloe ‘NIGHT SKY’, due to its prolific offsetting, enhances    propagation in a commercial environment, whereas Aloe barbadensis    (Aloe vera) produces few offsets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘NIGHT SKY’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Thisplant is approximately 10 months old, shown in a 1 gallon container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of the inflorescence.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘NIGHT SKY’ plants in acommercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 21° C.to 25° C. during the day, and 18° C. to 21° C. during the night. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to3000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesof typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Aloe hybrid ‘NIGHT SKY’.-   Age of the plant described: About 1 year.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 25 days at 22° C.-   Root description: Fibrous. Brown, not accurately measured with The    R.H.S. chart.-   Propagation method: Vegetative divisions or tissue culture.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright rosette, offsetting to form clumps with time.-   Container size: 2 gallon.-   Height: Approximately 14 cm to top of highest leaf. Approximately 50    cm to top of highest inflorescence.-   Plant spread: Approximately 35 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Offsets from base of plant.-   Quantity of offsets: 12 to 15.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Average length.—Average range 10-20 cm.        -   Average width.—5 cm.        -   Average thickness.—About 5 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate, slightly deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Clasping.        -   Margin.—Sharp dentations occurring at regular intervals of            1.5 to 2 cm.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Quantity of leaves.—Approximately 12 to 15 per mature            rosette.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A            flushed Greyed-Red 178B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS            Green 137C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A.            Dentations near Greyed-Red 178B. Sparse to moderate dappling            of spots colored near RHS White 155A. Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Green 137A. Dentations near Greyed-Red 178B.            Sparse dappling of spots colored near RHS White 155A.        -   Venation.—Linear. Color: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Late Fall to early Winter in Southern    California.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Raceme.-   Flower longevity on plant: About 1.5 months.-   Quantity of flowers: 40 to 50 on average.-   Total inflorescence size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 20 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 6.5 cm.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Orange 28B, apex near Yellow-Green 145A.-   Corolla:    -   -   Arrangement.—Tubular, opening slightly at apex with age.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.0 to 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm at widest point.        -   Color.—        -   Immature.—Outer Surface: Near RHS Orange 28B, apex near            Yellow-Green 145B lightly streaked Yellow 2B. Inner Surface:            RHS Orange 26B, apex near Yellow-Green 145B lightly streaked            Yellow 2D.        -   Mature.—Outer Surface: Near RHS Orange 28C, upper ⅓            Yellow-Orange 18C. Apex flushed Yellow-Green 145B. Inner            Surface: RHS Orange 26C, apex near Yellow-Green 145c lightly            streaked Yellow 2D.-   Calyx: Absent.-   Fragrance: None.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—2-3 mm.        -   Aspect.—Upright when immature, dropping slightly at            maturity.        -   Color.—Near RHS Orange 28A when immature, near Orange-Red            30D at maturity.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 30 cm.        -   Width.—7 mm.        -   Aspect.—Upright when immature, dropping slightly at            maturity.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 147C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—6.        -   Filament length.—2.5 cm.        -   Filament color.—RHS Yellow 4D.        -   Anther length.—About 3 mm.        -   Anther color.—RHS Yellow 13A.        -   Anther shape.—Oval.        -   Pollen color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 14B.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS Yellow 4D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: RHS Yellow 4D. Ovary color:            RHS Green 143C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    28° C. to 0° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance no susceptibility    observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named‘NIGHT SKY’ as herein illustrated and described.